Posted: 2/16/07
Texas Baptist Forum
Too much like Jesus?
Charles Wade asked if Baptists could be “too much like Jesus” (Jan. 22). Seven pages later, a story reported “about one-third of a penny” for every dollar of income of the average church member supports “benevolent causes outside the congregation.” Is this “too much like Jesus”?
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 “I recognize we are meeting here today to consider a bill to protect chickens. But isn't protecting our nation’s young women … equally, if not more, important than our dinner entree?” James Sensenbrenner U.S. congressman, R-Wis., discussing his unsuccessful attempt to add an amendment outlawing taking minors across state lines for an abortion to a bill increasing penalties for transporting animals across state lines for the purposes of fighting (RNS) “It’s not like we’re sitting in the pews. It’s the honor system plus some third-party oversight.” “My faith explains me. … We are a nation of faith. It doesn't necessarily have to be mine. But we are a nation that believes that faith is an important part of describing who we are, and our generosity, and our sense of optimism and hope. That does describe me.” |
Most of us have no desire to really be like the One we call “Lord.” We are too comfortable with our lifestyles and reputations to strive for the changes necessary in our lives and churches to be accused of being like Christ.
To be viewed like Jesus, the church must stop using building programs as a marketing method of excitement or as “upgrades” for the “glory of God.” This is nothing more than materialistic churches choosing to spend their money on themselves. New buildings for nongrowing churches are more for our comfort than “God’s glory.” If God had a vote at most business meetings, he would vote to spend the dollars on the needy instead of on the satisfied.
We must admit the majority of the church, like the majority of the world, will never adopt the “Jesus agenda” that Wade speaks of. The question is: “Will we fulfill Christ’s call of self-denial and sacrifice, or will we let our desires to fill pews and appear relevant continue to strangle real life out of the church?”
Greg Willis
Granbury
New Baptist Covenant
I do hope the convocation on the New Baptist Covenant (Jan 22) will serve its purpose. It sounds like a good thing. But please don’t expect me to believe politics are not a factor. Not with former President Bill Clinton’s wife running for president.
Former President Carter and Clinton would be more credible if, as professing Christians and Baptists, they would include the unborn in their concern for the “least of these.”
The abortion president—Bill Clinton—did enormous damage to the moral fabric of our great country that we may never recover from when he pushed and promoted abortion, as well as the gay/lesbian lifestyle, thus undermining marriage. The Bible clearly addresses these issues. Intelligent people cannot plead ignorance.
How can healing take place without first the repentance of God’s people, as in 2 Chronicles 7:14? It can’t.
Yes, Baptists should be known for our love and caring, and I believe we are, but we should also be known for what we’re against. There are two sides of the coin.
Joyce Lucas
Midland
I have been a subscriber to the Standard for many years and have marveled at the fair-minded handling of the letters to the editor. Equal treatment of letters is a stretch some times, I am sure. However, the Feb. 5 issue left me wondering about the Christian attitude of some of the writers: You would think the letters section was from a political forum.
I am sure I have never read such vicious and malicious attacks on any of our former presidents of these United States. It seems these letters had more of a political bent than a religious expression. We do not need that in our state Baptist news.
These former presidents (Carter and Clinton) do not deserve this treatment when their involvement in the convocation for the New Baptist Covenant is to further the cause of uniting various bodies of Baptists into a worldwide noble effort to bring Jesus to hurting sinners. I applaud these men that they would lend their names to this effort.
Shame on these writers who use the liberty of your pages to vent their hate on two honorable Baptist laymen. “He that is without sin among you cast the first stone.”
Harry G. Clay
Weatherford
The convocation for the New Baptist Covenant may well be a worthy endeavor, but it seems if one wants to unite Baptists one would pick people as representatives who are not so divisive and polarizing.
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The Carter/Clinton combo is as likely to repel as many as it is to recruit. Both men have far too much political and personal baggage. One can join with many different Christian groups that exist to do the same type of “good works” and have more in common with them then to join with fellow Baptists whom one doesn’t understand or comprehend.
Jean Whitmore
Okinawa, Japan
Saddam, Islam and the war against Satan
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As I digested my Feb. 5 Standard, I read two things that disturbed me.
In “Out Loud,” David Gushee mentioned “… democracy such as the one on display at the execution of Sadam Hussein.” In “Right or Wrong?” Philip Wise notes “… the undignified execution of Sadam Hussein.”
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Sadam Hussein was directly responsible for the murder, slaughter, massacre of a million people. We should be concerned with the “dignity” of his execution? The academic credentials of Gushee and Wise make their statements even more disturbing, exemplifying the phrase “Ivory Tower.”
Allah is Satan parading as the God of Abraham. Mohammad was a prophet of Satan. If one questions this, look at their works.
The last thing this country or our church needs is academia supporting Islamic terrorists by undermining the war against Satan.
Fred Rosenbaum
Gainesville
Wal-Mart bashing
Some Baptists have joined many liberal groups in Wal-Mart bashing. They ignore many less-successful businesses.
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Since Wal-Mart came to Port Lavaca—and, I’m sure, many other areas—they hired chronically unemployed people, as well as many people who traditionally were unemployable, due to physical, educational, age or mental challenges.
Wal-Mart has saved the working poor—and many of the rest of us—far more money than many businesses out there. What about the recent $4 charge on prescriptions? Unheard of!
Why do you think the banking industry rose up as a whole to challenge—and defeat—Wal-Mart’s attempt to get a banking permit? No one complained. Who else allows many charitable organizations to collect donations at their door?
People work for Wal-Mart because they want to and Wal-Mart will hire them. The workers probably think their part of the Golden Rule is getting a paycheck.
Baptists can find enough real evil in America upon which to spend our efforts. What about our movie and TV industries or credit card companies? Or do we have two Golden Rules?
Incidentally, I don’t own even one share of Wal-Mart stock.
Jerry Pentecost
Point Comfort
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